Victory Ground Devo
Daily Reading: (1 Corinthians 15:57):
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Greek word for victory is “nikos” and it means exactly what the text says it means, “victory” plain and simple, or triumph. Victory is complete in Jesus, it isn’t partial, it’s not part-time.
When you study the Greek word for “gives” (didōmi) as in “gives us the victory”, there are two definitions that are appropriate to use for 1 Corinthians 15:57. The first definition is a gift. The second definition is to supply. And this verb gives is in the present active participle. What this means is that right now God is actively supplying you the victory in Jesus’ name, and it is a gift of His grace. Our part is to receive that victory by faith or to simply celebrate and praise Him for it, “thanks be to God!”
We often want to think that the victory depends on what we bring to the table. In our natural world that is often how things work. But here Paul is telling us as he is writing to the Corinthians that victory is already yours in Jesus. It’s not what you bring to the table that determines the victory, it is a gift of His grace. He is the one who supplies it to us.
The question to ask when you face a difficult time is: Are you fighting for victory, or are you fighting from victory?
When you see how you’re already standing on victory ground on the basis of Jesus’ finished work, you’ll stop worrying about how and when your victory will manifest. Settle it in your heart and mind that you already have the victory through Christ. As you do this, God’s rest and peace will rule in your heart, and you will receive your breakthrough!
The truth of 1 Corinthians 15:57 can be seen in other places in Scripture because Christ has overcome the world, you are an overcomer (1 John 5:4). Indeed, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). One of your most powerful weapons of warfare against the enemy is to worship the Lord and give Him thanks — even before you see the victory come to pass (Philippians 4:6-7).
What is the context around this verse of victory? If you look at the header of 1 Corinthians 15 it says, “The Resurrection of Christ”. Our victory is secure because of the Resurrection. The Resurrection is complete and our victory is secured. 1 Corinthians 15:54-56 talks about our Resurrection in Christ- this is why no matter what happens to us we have been given the victory.
So what should we do with this knowledge of Resurrection victory that we have in Jesus?
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
With the knowledge of the victory that you have in Christ- let that truth bring you to the place where nothing can move you off of it. Brothers and sisters who are loved by God, He has given you the victory, and so know that your work of the Lord is not in vain.
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